What is Pine Resin and Why Do Trees Produce it?
Have you noticed, while walking among pine or other evergreens, that some trees exude a sticky substance? This is pine resin and is produced as a healing and protective measure when a tree is wounded.
The pine resin is antimicrobial and works to protect the plant from disease. Those same components can help to fight bacteria and fungus on our bodies, as well, making pine resin a great item for your home first aid kit.
My first experience with pine resin salve was a gift I received from Chris at Joybilee Farm. I happened to have a rash on the back of my ankle which was not responding to Plantain Balm, which I use frequently for skin irritations. The Pine Salve that Chris sent healed the rash with just a few applications. I was now on the hunt for pine resin so I could make my own.
But the pine salve is not just for rashes. It’s also an effective healing agent on cuts and bruises, helps to draw out splinters, and can be rubbed on your chest for congestion.
How to Harvest Resin
Pine resin is extremely sticky and not always easy to remove, so be sure to wear old clothing when collecting it. A glass jar that was headed for the recycling bin and an old butter knife are all that is needed to collect it. You’ll want to keep these items for this use only since they will be difficult to clean afterwards.
The resin is healing the tree, so your first consideration is to leave plenty for the tree after collecting. Use your knife to scape just the outer layer of resin from the tree. In colder weather, it may be hard and you may be able to break it off, rather than scrape it.
Tree Sap Remover
Rub some melted tallow, or other fat or oil, onto your hands to remove the pine resin. Then wash with soap and water.
Use alcohol to remove the tree sap from your clothing. Some scrubbing will be necessary, so again, it’s best to wear something old that you don’t have to worry about ruining.
You can see the pine resin dripping where a tree branch has been removed. Since there is so little resin here, it would be best not to harvest.
How to Make Pine Resin Salve
Pine resin is most commonly used, but you can also use spruce or fir resin.
Add as much olive oil as pine resin you’ve collected to your collection jar of resin. Place the jar of olive oil and pine resin in the top of a double boiler (or make your own double boiler).
Simmer very gently on the stove top until the resin melts. This may take several hours.
Strain through a fine mesh metal strainer and return to the double boiler. Clean the strainer with melted tallow or oil in the same way you removed the tree sap from your hands.
For every cup of resin/oil mixture, add 1/4 cup of grated beeswax, or beeswax pastilles. Heat on a very low setting, stirring until the beeswax has melted.
Pour the melted balm into tins or small glass jars and allow to cool.
Store the balm in a cool, dark place.
Other Ways to Use Pine (or Spruce)
Natural Home Remedies for Your Medicine Cabinet
Pine Needle and Raspberry Soda
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Chris says
Is the salve sticky too? Does it need to be covered?
Susan Vinskofski says
Good question, Chris. The salve is the consistency of vaseline. It’s not sticky per say, but is a little messy.
M says
You don’t need to strain the resin after melted into the oil. The funk will settle and the good stuff can be poured off. Also, coconut oil doesn’t go rancid as fast as olive. A little of this salve goes a long way so you want it to hold up.
I use it as a lotion when I need to process a lot of roots like dandelion. It’s very waterproof.
It’s also good at healing rough feet if applied at night.
Jeff says
How long would this salve last if coconut oil was used?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Jeff, I’m assuming you are asking M who mentioned using coconut oil, but I thought I’d chime in. I use olive oil and in the refrigerator will last several years. Even at room temperature, year old salve is just fine. Coconut oil should last just as long if not longer.
Soo says
Thank you so much for your well timed recipe packed email! I’m now motivated to pull some spruce tips (from last spring), pine resin and tallow out of the freezer. You can also use a crock pot to infuse oil.
I am on a mobile so unfortunately it’s very hard to read and write with so many notifications (hearts etc).
MUCH appreciate this pine filled chase -the-January-blahs-away email!
River says
How can I remove the residue that settles at the bottom of my container? I’ve been throwing it out jars because there’s so much at the bottom and it is rock solid.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi River, have you tired gently warming it in a double boiler?
Charlotte Anderson says
Thank you for this awesome post. I am always interested in finding new ways to use the beeswax from my bees !
Soo says
Oh how wonderful to have fresh beeswax to use!
Carolyn says
Love this! I have a friend who told me about the spruce salve making. When my son cut his thumb with an axe and we could not get out to a Dr, a Native friend used Spruce gum on his thumb and he doesn’t even have a scar. I would think with olive oil it would be more fluid if not chilled whereas the coconut oil might be more solid, if the weather is not to hot.
Charles says
My wife wants to make wax covered cloths used to wrap food…it calls fir pine resin to make the wrap sticky…does it matter what kind of pine tree is used?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Charles, you may collect resin from any type of pine. You can also purchase powdered resin like this: https://amzn.to/2R6fbHg.
Kevin says
Charles and Susan, exactly why I found you. My wife and daughter want to do the same thing, the recipe made no mention of resin. I stumbled on it elsewhere. Your wrap recipe?
Susan Vinskofski says
I’ve tried a few different methods, but this recipe produced the nicest wraps, even though it’s not the easiest recipe I’ve tried. https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/zero-waste-kitchen/
Dulce says
Thank you! I’ve tried variations of similar recipes… I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. They don’t turn out like the real bees wraps… How does your recipe compare? I wasted a bunch of wax, fabric, and supplies… So sad!
Joy says
My cousin made some resin and mailed it to me from NM. It is very hard and sticky . What is the best way to incorporate it with some coconut oil so it will be easier to apply?
Maria says
I remember my mom making something like this with Epson Salt. She would put it in a used (but clean) baby jar and cut a incision in the metal lid. She would then stick a popstickle stick through the medal lid and screw it onto the bottle. When we had a sliver or cut… we would unscrew the lid and the popcycle stick would, of course have the pinegum on it that could be applied to the wound. It was amazing how a little pinegum and band-aide would suck out any sliver.
Susan Vinskofski says
The popsicle stick is a great idea; thank you for sharing!
Scott says
I’m trying to make a tacky mustache wax. Will the resin completely dissolve in the oil, before adding the wax?
Sharon says
Is there an alternative ingredient to beeswax in case of allergies?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Sharon, yes, candelilla wax is a vegetable wax used as an alternative to beeswax. https://amzn.to/38clxQ6.
Sharon says
Thank you, very good to know!
Melanie Kerschner says
Do I use the “same amount” of oil as resin by weight or volume. My coconut oil is much lighter weight than the resin so by volume it will be a lot more than the resin. Which way to go?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Melanie, I have only used olive oil and I measure by volume.
Donna says
Is pine tar the same as resin? A friend got me a can of pine tar from Sweden and I didn’t know if that would work. I don’t have many areas near me with pine trees.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Donna, pine tar and resin are not the same. The resin is the sap from the tree in its natural form. The pine tar is a product made from resinous woody parts of the tree.
Linda says
I’m looking for tree RESIN, balm if possible, specifically from the Norway spruce. Is this something you can help me with? Do you sell your products? Thank you for your time.
Susan Vinskofski says
I’m sorry, I don’t sell my products, but a quick search on Etsy had a few norway spruce resin products. I hope that helps!
William Williams says
I live in the south east part of Mississippi not a lot of fir or cedar trees there are plenty of loblolly pines are they good for anything